The Boro defender has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract at White Hart Lane and will sign subject to the completion of his medicals.

Woodgate has chosen Spurs ahead of Newcastle United, after rejecting the chance to return to St James’ Park.

The 28-year-old remains fiercely ambitious and believes that there are potentially more medals to be won in North London.

Boro originally agreed the £8m fee with Newcastle last week, and later gave Woodgate permission to talk to Spurs while they were negotiating the deal with the Londonders.

Woodgate spoke initially to the Magpies, followed by Spurs, and, after preferring the latter, told Kevin Keegan he would not be going back to Tyneside.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said today: “We have agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I am aware Woodgate went down at the weekend to have a medical.

“Basically we have given him the choice. We told him we agreed a fee with Newcastle and Spurs and with another club.

“We told him that he could go or stay and have left the final decision with him.”

Lamb added: “We have an abundance of centre-backs with the emergence of David Wheater and Robert Huth back and fit again, and with Pogatetz as well.

“As a result Gareth felt that we were in a position to let one of them go.”

Woodgate is fully fit again after missing Boro’s last four games with a shin injury.

Woodgate joined Boro on a year-long loan from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in 2006, and his permanent move for a transfer fee of £7m was activated the following April.

It is very unlikely that Woodgate will be joined at White Hart Lane by his Boro team-mate Stewart Downing.

Despite ongoing reports from London that Spurs were planning a massive bid for the winger, it appears they have not put anything official in writing.

Gareth Southgate said: “I am waiting confirmation of what Jonathan wants to do. As far as Stewart is concerned, he is not for sale, it’s as simple as that.

“Both myself and the chairman have told him that and we see him as very much part of our future and a very important player to us.

“So as far as we are concerned that’s dead. I think Stewart has just met with the chairman last week and he is probably letting it all sink in at the moment.

“January is an unsettling period for so many players because of all the speculation.

“People who think they are maybe on their way and who aren’t want to be and players who want to stay end up on their way.

“There are all sorts of scenarios going on and I’m looking forward to the first of February when everything will have calmed down a bit.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Premier giants Celtic have confirmed they have signed Boro’s 20-year-old striker Ben Hutchinson on a pre-contract.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: “Ben is something different from what we have got coming through from the younger lads.

“He has made his Middlesbrough debut and we could speak to him because his contract is up.

“Our football development manager John Park has done a lot of work on it and I have given John the go-ahead to get on with it.”

Boro will be due compensation for Hutchinson, whose first team chances in the future at Boro would have been strictly limited following the return to fitness of Mido and the impending arrival of Afonso Alves.

Hutchinson has made eight Premier League appearances as a sub this season, scoring on his debut against Manchester City.

His only start was in the FA Cup third round tie at Bristol City.

Southgate said: “We had contact from Celtic on Friday and that was the first I heard about it.

“I expect to receive more news over the next few days.”

Southgate has confirmed that Boro have maintained an interest in Motherwell’s 21-year-old winger Ross McCormack.

He said: “Ross McCormack is a player we have been watching. We’ve been in contact with Motherwell to let them know we have an interest.

“We have had preliminary discussions with the player’s representatives, but at the moment there is nothing concrete.”